How to Get a Dark Beard

Co-authored by Marlon Rivas

Last Updated: June 3, 2021 References

Beards are a popular facial hair trend among men. Some men, however, do not grow a beard because they feel their beard is too patchy, or too grey. In order to solve this problem, try making your beard darker. This can be done by dying your beard a darker color, growing a fuller beard, or try alternative darkening methods.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Coloring Your Beard

1
Select a color that is slightly lighter than your natural color. When you are selecting a color for your beard dye, choose a color that is slightly lighter than your natural color. A darker color can appear very bold and may look unnatural. Instead, try a color that is a few shades lighter. You can always darken the beard later if you desire.^{[1]
X
Research source}
- If you dye your bead too dark the change will look drastic and your new beard color may stand out like a sore thumb.
2
Test the dye on your skin. Prior to coloring your beard, test the product on your skin to see if you have an allergic reaction. Mix up a bit of dye and put a dot behind your ear or on your forearm. Let the dye sit on your skin for approximately 24 hours and then wash it off.^{[2]
X
Research source}
- If you notice any redness, itching, or irritation in the area, then you probably have a sensitivity to the dye.
Advertisement
3
Consider a natural beard dye. If you had an allergic reaction to the dye, then you should use a natural beard dye, such as henna. Henna is a plant-based dye that comes in a variety of colors.^{[3]
X
Research source}
4
Read the instructions. A box of beard dye will come with a list of written instructions. Carefully read and follow all of the instructions. They will instruct you on how to mix the dye, apply the dye, and rinse the dye off of your beard.
5
Put Vaseline around your beard. In order to prevent you from getting the dye on the skin surrounding your beard, apply a thin layer of Vaseline to this area.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- For example, you may want to apply Vaseline to your cheeks about your beard and on your neck below your beard. You can also put Vaseline around your ears and sideburns.^{[5]
  X
  Research source}
6
Prepare the dye. Depending on the type of dye that you purchased, you may need to mix the dye with water before applying. Follow the instructions carefully. Only use enough dye to cover your beard. Typically, one package of beard dye can be used multiple times.^{[6]
X
Research source}
7
Apply the dye using a brush. Most beard dye kits will come with an application brush. Use the brush to apply the dye to your beard. Cover all of the hair you want to darken with the dye. Brush along your beard in the same direction that your hair grows. Do not brush against your hair growth.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Make sure that you only apply the dye to your beard and avoid touching the skin surrounding your beard.
- If the kit did not come with a brush, you can use a toothbrush to apply the dye to your beard.
8
Check the color. Once you have applied the dye to your beard, you will need to wait for the dye to set before rinsing. Wait the minimum suggested time (approximately 5 minutes) and then test a section of the beard to see if you like the color. Use a paper towel to wipe off a small section of dye.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- If you like the color then you are ready to rinse off the dye. If you would like your beard to be a bit darker, re-apply the dye to the area you tested and let the dye sit for another couple of minutes.
- Continue to test until the beard reaches the desired colour.
9
Rinse the dye. Once you are happy with the color, rinse your beard with water until the water is clear. Most dyes are temporary, so the color will begin to fade after a few washes.^{[9]
X
Research source}
10
Touch up the color weekly. Depending on the thickness of the your beard and the rate at which your beard grows, you will likely have to touch up your roots. Apply the same color of dye to the roots of your beard as it grows. Typically, this will need to be done about once a week.^{[10]
X
Research source}

EXPERT TIP

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist
Marlon Rivas is a Barber and Owner of MGX Professional Men's Grooming, a barbershop based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He is also the founder of Busystyle.com, a service that provides online scheduling services to businesses in the barbering and beauty industry. Marlon has over 15 years of experience in managing and providing barber services.

Marlon Rivas
Facial Hair Specialist

Avoid washing your beard as often as you normally would. That will help keep the dye looking fresh longer. Also, when you do wash it, try to avoid lathering up the soap on your beard hair. Instead, focus on washing your skin and the base of the hair.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Growing a Fuller Beard

1
Grow out your beard for four weeks. You can also make your beard look darker by growing a thicker beard. Let your beard grow out for at least four weeks. Many people feel that their beard is patchy, but in most cases you will not know how full your beard can be unless you grow it out fully.^{[11]
X
Research source}
2
Exercise regularly. Exercising regularly can help to boost testosterone levels, which will promote hair growth. It will also increase blood circulation, making hair grow in thicker and fuller. Try getting at least 30 minutes of exercise daily. Strength training, such as weight lifting is the most beneficial for boosting testosterone.^{[12]
X
Research source}
3
Reduce stress. Stress can impact hair growth and quality by constricting blood vessels, making it difficult for nutrients to reach the hair follicles. In order to reduce your stress levels, try meditating for ten minutes each day. Sit in a quiet room and focus on your breathing. This will help you clear your mind and relax.^{[13]
X
Research source}
4
Sleep for eight hours each night. Sleep can help to rejuvenate testosterone levels, which can help you grow a fuller beard. This is especially true if you are able to get a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night.^{[14]
X
Research source}
- Less than five hours of sleep can reduce your testosterone levels by up to 15% and may result in the development of a patchy beard.
5
Eat a healthy diet. Eating a healthy vitamin and protein rich diet can also help to increase testosterone levels. For example, make sure that you eat a variety of vegetables and proteins. Try adding kale, Brazil nuts, and eggs to your diet to help thicken your beard.^{[15]
X
Research source}

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Trying Other Alternatives

1
Get a facial hair transplant. If you are unable to grow a beard, or you can only grow a very patchy beard, you may want to consider a facial hair transplant. In this procedure, hair will be removed from either the back or side of your head and then transplanted to your face. This is an expensive procedure that costs around $7,000 (USD) and takes two to five hours to complete.^{[16]
X
Research source}
- After about two weeks the transplanted hair will fall out and then regrow three months later.
2
Darken your beard with black walnuts. You can also darken your hair with a natural remedy, such as black walnuts. Take 7-8 dark walnuts, crush them and then mix them with 7-8 cups of water. Cook the walnuts in water for about an hour and a half. Then let the mixture cool before straining the walnuts. Dip your beard into the walnuts and let the hair sit for anywhere from 5-20 minutes depending on the color you want to achieve.
- Walnuts can also dye your skin and clothes, so be careful when working with this mixture. Wear gloves and old clothing that you don't mind staining.
3
Try darkening your beard with cocoa paste. In order to darken your beard with cocoa paste, you will need to combine cocoa powder and water until you get a thick paste. Apply the paste to your beard and let sit for 15 minutes.The longer you leave the powder on your hair, the darker your hair will be. Once you are finished, rinse your hair in water.
4
Pencil in a darker beard. Using a dark eye shadow or eye liner, you can pencil in patchy sections of your beard to make it look fuller. This will help to cover up any patches that may be present, giving you the look of a darker and fuller beard.^{[17]
X
Research source}

Warnings

Be careful when applying dye to your beard. Avoid getting the dye on your skin or clothes because it can stain.

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 3